The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

WOODSTOCK. 137
fell full upon it, while it left every other part of the room in comparative
darkness. The features seemed then to have an unnatural glow, while the
rising and falling-of the flame in the chimney gave the head and limbs something which resembled the appearance of actual motion. Now, seen by day,
it was a mere picture of the hard and ancient school of Holbein; last night,
it seemed for the moment something more. Determined to get to the bottom
of this contrivance if possible, Everard, by the assistance of a table and
chair, examined the portrait still more closely, and endeavoured to ascertain
the existence of any private spring, by which it might be slipt aside, - a
contrivance not unfrequent in ancient buildings, which usually abounded
with means of access and escape, communicated to none but the lords of
the castle, or their immediate confidants. But the panel on which Victor
Lee was painted was firmly fixed in the wainscoting of the apartment, of
which it made a part, and the Colonel satisfied himself that it could not
have been used for the purpose which he had suspected.
He next aroused his faithful squire, Wildrake, who, notwithstanding his
deep share of the " blessedness of sleep," had scarce even yet got rid of the
effects of the grace-cup of'the preceding evening. " It was the reward,"
according to his own view of the matter, " of his tenperance; one single
draught having made him sleep more late and more sound than a matter of
half-a-dozen, or from thence to a dozen pulls, would have done, when he was
guilty of the enormity of rere-suppers,* and of drinking deep after them."
" Had your temperate draught," said Everard, " been but a thought more
strongly seasoned, Wildrake, thou hadst slept so sound that the last trump
only could have waked thee."
" And then," answered Wildrake, "I should have waked with a headache, Mark; for I see my modest sip has not exempted me from that
epilogue.-But let us go forth, and see how the night, which we have passed
so strangely, has been spent by the rest of them. I suspect they are all
right willing to evacuate Woodstock, unless they have either rested better
than we, or at least been more lucky in lodgings."
" In that case, I will dispatch thee down to Joceline's hut, to negotiate
the re-entrance of Sir Henry Lee and his family into their old apartments,
where, my interest with the General being joined with the indifferent repute
of the place itself, I think they have little chance of being disturbed either
by the present, or by any new Commissioners."
" But how are they to defend themselves against the fiends, my gallant
Colonel?" said Wildrake. " Methinks had I an interest in yonder pretty
girl, such as thou dost boast, I should be loth to expose her to the terrors of
a residence at Woodstock, where these devils- I beg their pardon, for I
suppose they hear every word we say - these merry goblins - make such
gay work from twilight till morning."
"My dear Wildrake," said the Colonel, "I, as well as you, believe it
possible that our speech may be overheard; but I care not, and will speak
my mind plainly. I trust Sir Henry and Alice are not engaged in this silly
plot; I cannot reconcile it with the pride of the one, the modesty of the
other, nor the good sense of both, that any motive could engage them in so
strange a conjunction. But the fiends are all of your own political persuasion,
Wildrake, all true-blue cavaliers; and I am convinced, that Sir Henry and
Alice Lee, though they be unconnected with them, have not the slightest
cause to be apprehensive of their goblin machinations. Besides, Sir Henry
and Joceline must know every corner about the place: it will be far more
difficult to play off any ghostly machinery upon him than upon strangers.
But let us to our toilet, and when water and brush have done their work,
we will enquire whllat is next to be done."
* Rere-suppers (quasi arriere) belonged to a species of luxury introduced in the jolly days of King James's
extravagance, and continued through the subsequent reign. The supper took place at an early hour, six o.
seven o'clock at latest —the rere-supper was a postliminary banquet, a hors d'auvre, which made its ap
pearance at ten or eleven, and served as al apology for prolonging the entertainment till midnight.
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